May

All selective licensing should be borough-wide, says leading Labour figure

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According to Labour’s deputy mayor of Tower Hamlets, councils should have the power to automatically introduce selective licensing borough-wide.

Indicating the party’s policy direction, leading party figure Rachel Blake (main picture) says the current law governing where authorities can introduce licensing needs updating to reflect the growth in the private rented sector.

She attacked the announcement of a Renters Reform Bill in the Queen’s Speech for not going far enough to protect renters.

“The bill does not address the erosion of available homes that has been caused by the growth of short-term letting platforms,” says Blake.

“When I knock on doors across London, I find homes that are being let out on a short-term basis. These platforms are under-regulated, and this is another missed opportunity with this bill.”

She adds that it doesn’t include details of any extra money or set out what enforcement powers or institutions will be in place to back it up.

Local councils

“As is so often the case with this government, this bill passes the buck to local councils but doesn’t give them the funding or tools to make it a reality.”

Blake says the government has also ‘shamelessly stolen’ the name ‘Decent Homes’ which it used to drive up standards in social housing but, unlike Labour’s costed proposals, is just spin with no financial backing.

“Of course, one of the biggest issues people are facing with rocketing inflation and a cost-of-living crisis is spiralling rents, which this bill will do nothing to address.”

Tower Hamlets is one of six London boroughs which, working with London Renters Union, has promised greater landlord regulation, expanded landlord licensing and hiring more enforcement officers.

They have also all vowed to campaign for rent controls, reduce attempts to move people out of the borough and to reduce their use of ‘intentional homelessness’ decisions.

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